Church garden to bear fruit

By Bridget Brady
CRANBOURNE’S first community garden is on its way to fruition.
The Turning Point Family Church in Cranbourne established the Room To Grow Community Garden on a one acre area of its land, and said the garden would be ready for green thumbs by the end of March .
Project manager and brains behind the garden Kathey Blackmont said she hoped residents, schools and community groups would make the most of the community garden.
“The aim is to connect local residents and to offer them all of the benefits, physically emotionally, of gardening,” Ms Blackmont said.
“And of course they are getting low-cost fruit and vegetables.”
For a small cost, residents are allocated a plot where they can plant their vegetables.
“They can plant their own things and people can share ideas and skills.”
From her work at the church, Ms Blackmont said she noticed there was a real need for a community garden to be established in Cranbourne.
“There are so many families that don’t give their kids apples anymore because they can’t afford them. This is an opportunity to grow their own for a very low cost and learn about what they are growing.”
Ms Blackmont said a gazebo, a BBQ area, bush tucker garden and a pond with a frog-friendly habitat would also be in the Room To Grow Community Garden.
Ms Blackmont said she hoped the community garden would be a free service for residents once she started another dream of hers – a Cranbourne market.
The market would include fresh local produce and work from local craftspeople, Ms Blackmont said.
“I am waiting on approval of that but hopefully a community market will be up and running here too.”
Anyone interested in the garden or the community market could contact the Turning Point Family Church on 5996 3048.